Kyrgyz Republic: Second Issyk-kul Sustainable Development Project

1. Being of outstanding natural beauty, the lake, shoreline, and surroundings are one of the nation s most popular tourist destinations with over 750,000 visitors in 2013. Consequently, tourism has become an important economic driver for the region, and particularly for lakeshore areas. While the growth in tourism is destined to continue, its impact on the pristine and fragile environments and ecosystems of the lake and its vicinity are of increasing concern. Being both oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) and endorheic (lacking conventional outflows), the lake is extremely sensitive to elevated nutrient and contaminant inflows. Unchecked, it is therefore increasingly vulnerable to excessive liquid and solid waste pollution from the expanding human activity.

1. Being of outstanding natural beauty, the lake, shoreline, and surroundings are one of the nation s most popular tourist destinations with over 750,000 visitors in 2013. Consequently, tourism has become an important economic driver for the region, and particularly for lakeshore areas. While the growth in tourism is destined to continue, its impact on the pristine and fragile environments and ecosystems of the lake and its vicinity are of increasing concern. Being both oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) and endorheic (lacking conventional outflows), the lake is extremely sensitive to elevated nutrient and contaminant inflows. Unchecked, it is therefore increasingly vulnerable to excessive liquid and solid waste pollution from the expanding human activity.

2. Cholpon-Ata, a small town on the lake s northern shoreline, highlights these concerns. Although enjoying the benefits of a flourishing tourism industry, with over 238,000 tourist visits in 2012, its environmental pollution and subsequent public health risk potential is an increasing concern due its dilapidated sewerage network, treatment facilities, and undeveloped solid waste management system. Reflecting other lakeshore towns and settlements, it emphasizes the crucial need for environmental infrastructure improvements in order to protect and sustain the lake and surrounding areas.

3. The government of the Kyrgyz Republic has recognized the significant environmental and natural resource values of the Issyk-Kul region, and is committed to ensuring its long-term environmental sustainability. As a result, it has adopted the National Sustainable Development Strategy for the Kyrgyz Republic for the Period 2013-2017, which establishes tourism as a key pillar of economic development while specifically mentioning the Issyk-Kul region in the context of national development.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The project will improve public health and environmental conditions within the area of the Issyk-Kul Lake by expanding and improving wastewater systems in selected urban centers around its shoreline. Being 180-km long, 60-km wide, and with surface area of 6,200-km, the lenticular-shaped lake is the world's second largest high-altitude lake. It is fed by a total of 118 rivers and streams, including hot springs and snow melt. The wider region is designated as a Ramsar (wetlands) site of globally significant biodiversity and forms part of UNESCO's Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve that extends to over 43,000-km. Rich with environmental, archeological, and cultural resources, it also provides a vital habitat for threatened and endangered species. The lake, shoreline, and surroundings are one of the nation's most popular tourist destinations, with over 750,000 visitors in 2013, and over one million anticipated in 2020. Consequently, tourism has become an important economic driver for the region, and particularly for lakeshore areas. While the growth in tourism is destined to continue, its impact on the pristine and fragile environments and ecosystems of the lake and its vicinity are however of increasing concern, particularly from excessive sewerage pollution

Impact

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Geographical Location

Ysyk-Kol

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

During Project Implementation

1. The contract for the PPTA consultancy (Firm) was signed on 9 March 2017, and effective from 15 March 2017 to 15 October 2017.

2. An ADB Mission visited the Kyrgyz Republic on 15 24 March 2017 to conduct an Inception Mission and met with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), (Executing Agency) and relevant regional and local government authorities and vodokanals (Implementing Agencies). The Mission (i) introduced PPTA team members, (ii) provided an overview of the PPTA, (iii) conducted relevant site visits; (iv) discussed and agreed the PPTA work schedule; and (v) discussed the loan processing schedule and next steps with relevant government counterparts.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The PPTA team will consist of 11 international and 6 national consultants. The total input will be 22 international person-months and 28 national person-months. ADB will recruit individual consultants and a firm in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). The Urban Development Specialist will be recruited individually. The rest will be recruited through a firm through simplified technical proposal. Quality- and cost-based selection method (90:10) will be adopted to ensure consulting services quality.

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